Secretary of State Scott Gessler says the left has ‚Äúlost faith in the traditional view of America,‚ÄĚ and instead is focusing on ginned up civil-rights issues.

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Secretary of State Scott Gessler.

During an address to fellow Republicans, Gessler talked about his lawsuit against Denver over issuing ballots to inactive voters, Occupy Denver protests and President Obama‚Äôs policies.

‚ÄúI think the interesting thing is just the amount of venom and hysteria that the left has poured on over this particular issue,‚ÄĚ Gessler said, of the inactive voters brouhaha. ‚ÄúIt’s really not the civil rights issue of the year. ‚Ä¶ But I look at this venom and I think there’s couple of things going on that we need to pay attention to as Republicans and conservatives.‚ÄĚ

Gessler sued Denver last month, saying clerks in a statewide election can‚Äôt mail ballots to inactive voters who haven‚Äôt voted since 2010 and haven‚Äôt responded to a postcard asking if they want a ballot for the Nov. 1 election. A judge ruled Denver could mail the ballots. At the time, Gessler called the decision “merely the first salvo in a long election year to come.”

Here’s what Gessler had to say at the luncheon, starting with the inactive voter lawsuit:

I think the interesting thing is just the amount of venom and hysteria that the left has poured on over this particular issue. And I think frankly it has very little to do with the merits because this case is really about ‘Does the legislature create the laws and the clerks follow them or do they just get to do whatever they want?’

It‚Äôs really not the civil rights issue of the year. But I look at this venom and I think there‚Äôs a couple of things going on that we need to pay attention to as Republicans and conservatives.

And one is it seems pretty clear that to the left and particularly a lot of the mainstream media, Republicans are fine as long as they don‚Äôt make waves. Pat them on the head. ‚ÄėGood boys, good girls, Republicans.‚Äô But when they actually make waves and challenge the status quo and challenge the way things have been done in the past, the left really gets upset. I think that‚Äôs in part what‚Äôs going on.

I think the other thing that‚Äôs going on when you look at the venom here is in many ways those folks have lost faith in the traditional view of what America is.

If you look at President Obama and I think he‚Äôs perfect embodiment in many ways of sort of the liberal view. When he was asked during in the campaign about American exceptionalism, he said yeah I guess Americans are exceptional, just like the Greeks think they‚Äôre exceptional. I certainly hope were not exceptional like the Greeks with their financial problems.

(Actually the question about exceptionalism came after Obama already was president, and here’s what he said.)

It was a real view that there is no exceptionalism about us, that these views of freedom, and personality responsibility and following your dreams, don‚Äôt really apply with any force in America.

So what you see is the left has really lost faith in that. So what do they have faith in? What they are trying to do is envision themselves doing protests and occupying parks. Even though they may have college graduate degrees and graduate degrees in peace studies and they gotten everything that the bounty of American can give to them, they‚Äôre still protesting. Because that‚Äôs what they need to have faith in.

So they need to find something that can serve as a civil rights battle and so that‚Äôs how they approach the world view. It‚Äôs a much different world view, I think, than the people in this room and what we stand for as conservatives.

I think the final thing that we shouldn‚Äôt forget is the economic policies that liberal America has forwarded. And for two years President Obama had a compliant Congress that did everything he wanted. And he got everything done that he wanted.

And if you remember the stimulus, he said ‚ÄėWhen we pass this — because we know really well, I went to Harvard, he said, and my economic adviser used to be the dean of Harvard and were really smart, and we‚Äôre here to tell you if you don‚Äôt pass this stimulus our employment is going to go above 8 percent. But if you pass it it will stay below 8 percent and then it will recover.’ That‚Äôs what he said. It seems as though he really didn‚Äôt know what he was talking about. And we have a 9 percent employment rate. That‚Äôs a sterile number that masks a lot of misery ‚Ä¶

So these policies have been an abject failure. What they‚Äôre doing is they are trying to change the subject, screaming hysterically over disenfranchisement or whatever they can in trying to create class warfare and start that and create racial divisions.

I think that‚Äôs what we‚Äôre facing here in this 2012 election. It‚Äôs not merely a battle for American exceptionalaism and the view of freedom and free markets and personal responsibility. It truly is ‚ÄėAre we going to be able to maintain a focus on the things that matter in this country and not be sidelined or distracted by some of these things that are going on?‚Äô

That‚Äôs what I‚Äôve learned about all this venom that‚Äôs been going on here in the state of Colorado.

We are a swing state. We are a battleground state. What happens here, what the people in this room do today and over the next year and a half, in many ways really are going to determine the fate of our country for the future. So I thank you for being here. I thank you all for taking the time and effort to be here. I would urge you to continue to be active and be involved because it matters. It matters a lot and we‚Äôre facing a lot.

Travel a bit, especially to¬† third world countries. When you return, ask yourself if you think America is exceptional. You may never want to leave again.People in other countries are clamoring to get into this country and become citizens. President Obama has a warped view of this country. America is an exceptional country regardless of what President Obama says.

Anonymous

First off, this article is about Gessler, not Obama. But please tell us where Obama said that America is not exceptional. And then please tell us what nations that you have been to to compare us to.

andyandy

Righties misrepresent what lefties say as a matter of course, and than they attack the misrepresentation. There are a great many techniques of lying from the Republicans, but this is perhaps the most sniveling and cowardly, and in no way serves the greater purpose of encouraging honest dialog.

Anonymous

Obama has consistently ‘downed America and Americans in his speeches. That does not reflect a belief in America being exceptional. You asked about my travels: I lived in West Africa for two years and traveled to almost every country there and I studied in India for a summer. I traveled to Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, and Pakistan. Then there are trips to Mexico and most of Europe. It is my opinion that America is the best country on earth and I think that differs from Mr. Obama’s well formed and frequently expressed bias.

Dough

Republican Scott Gessler should know all about venom, hysteria and class warfare. Thise are the politics Republicans have practiced for years. Any doubt, just listen to the ramblings¬† of Limbaugh, Beck, Coulter , Hannity and other spokespersons from the right.¬† They have been at war with America for 20 years, speading nothing but politcal lies , doubts and anger to advance their agenda.

andyandy

In the context of Gessler’s attempts to disenfranchise voters, perhaps venom, hysteria, and class warfare are entirely appropriate.

Obama simply inherited the failed policies of the worst President in history and continued them.¬† Gessler seems to have not noticed the policies until Obama took office.

And who says that Obama’s had a compliant Congress that gave him everything he wanted?¬† Hell, he barely avoided having an unprecedented refusal to raise the debt ceiling because the GOP just wanted to be obstinate.

Joe

Mr. Gessler is trying to put on the mantle of misunderstood reformer. ¬†But the mantle he really wears is of the GOP machine that is attempting to subvert democracy by trying to prevent SOME people from exercising their ALL AMERICAN right to vote. ¬†

Had his efforts been for mere electoral improvement, then reasonable voters of both parties might well have welcomed his efforts. ¬†Instead, he has begun a campaign of trying to disenfranchise the poor, the non-white, the young, etc ¬†that is , constituencies that tend to vote for the Democratic party. ¬†

Moreover his efforts echo those being advanced in other states – all by GOP officials and GOP-controlled legislatures. ¬†Though I am a progressive Democrat, I would be equally upset if a Democratic Secretary of State were trying to do to El Paso County or Weld County or Prowers County what Mr. Gessler has attempted to do with Denver County and Pueblo County. ¬†I want a Colorado where as many citizens vote as possible, and that the results are fairly counted, and the appropriate winner entrusted with the authority of office – UNTIL THE NEXT FREE AND FAIR ELECTION. ¬†

Mr. Gessler seems to want a world in which only white males who own property can vote. ¬†If that’s American exceptionalism, then, even as well paid white guy myself, I want no part of it. ¬†We tried that once. ¬†It didn’t work. ¬†And we fought a big war to end the matter. ¬†Sadly, many of Mr. Gessler’s party, especially from the old Confederate States, can’t seem to get past it. And many of Mr. Gessler’s friends seem to forget that having a Latino surname, especially in our Colorado, does not mean that someone is an “illegal alien.” ¬†

He, and his type, are just petrified about the America that is coming – where white guys in ties are really a small MINORITY who won’t control everybody else as has been the case in the past. ¬†Believe it or not, guys, but people with darker skin colors can be REAL AMERICANS too!

As for what Obama has done or NOT done in the first two years of his administration, Mr. Gessler should educate himself about something called the “Filibuster” in the US Senate. ¬†His buddies there have perfected the process to such an extent that Mr. Obama has been unable to lead or to enact many of the programs that would have helped the country and the economy. ¬†Why did Obama name a W appointee to TREASURY and to DEFENSE? ¬†Because even getting a simple federal judge approved by the Senate is impossible thanks to Mr. Gessler’s party and their unconscionable obstuctionism..

But Mr. Gessler’s masters determined that they could sabotage the Obama presidency, that is would be politically expedient to do so, and that it would move attention away for the¬†disastrous¬†economic (and other)¬†policies¬†of his guy W. ¬†They also did the analysis that suggests their chances to take control back control of the Congress, as well as the White House would be enhanced in 2012 if they prevented the economy from actually improving – except for the TOP ONE PERCENT, and especially if they changed the election laws in swing states like Colorado. ¬†Hence, Mr. Gessler and his assault of democratic institutions, like a free and open election. ¬†

Should they succeed, Colorado, you can expect to see more efforts from the likes of Mr. Gessler to “reform” the electoral process so we end up with a two party system – but where one party, the Democratic Party, despite being the majority registration in many places, simply, as a practical matter, CANNOT WIN. ¬†And you can expect the Uber-wealthy to consolidate their control of the US government, making it, as Roosevelt, noted “merely an appendage of Wall Street.” ¬†Shame on Mr. Gessler. ¬†SCOTT GESSLER SHOULD BE RECALLED!!!!! ¬†Please, Denver Post, keep a close eye on Mr. Gessler. ¬†Without resistance, and the light of day, Mr. Gessler would already have done his damage.

Dillard2008

The best country to live in depends on many factors, including your income, lifestyle choices, the level of safety and police protection, taxes and freedoms, and other factors. I have friends who live on the Baja peninsula in Mexico and they are perfectly happy there. The average American has neither the income or the will to venture outside of the comfort of what they are accustomed to. It also requires a sense of adventure and and a desire to discover the new and different, and most of us don’t like change or anything “different”. ¬†

Anonymous

This speech is full of projections and contradictions.¬† Whatever you think of Gessler’s politics, I am concerned about his competence and even his sanity. ¬†

“This case is really about ‚ÄėDoes the legislature create the laws and the
clerks follow them or do they just get to do whatever they want?‚Äô” ¬†

Gessler is the clerk here, not the legislature, and he is the one who is taking liberties, not reading the statute correctly.¬† Moreover, he has filed a lawsuit against other clerks, a ridiculously rash and aggressive action, that appears intended only to intimidate them.

“But when [the GoP] actually make waves and challenge the status quo and
challenge the way things have been done in the past, the left really
gets upset. . . .those folks have lost faith in the traditional view of what America is.”

The status quo is the tradition, no?¬† Does Gessler want tradition or not?¬†¬† I think one big problem is that he has an incredibly crude understanding of legal and Constitutional matters, particularly for a lawyer (who ostensibly has the training and should know better).¬† I think the Const doesn’t really say what he wants it to (it doesn’t give preference to men and instead refers to “Persons” – a deliberate choice the framers made and the adopters adopted.¬† He’s freaked out because he’s not really more important than women; his fantasy is untrue, and he can’t deal with real life.

Anonymous

Scott Gessler seems disingenuous and just pushing a very right wing agenda every time he opens his mouth.¬†¬† He’s always in the news dissing anyone who hasn’t fallen in political formation with him AND it sounds like he thinks people who don’t agree with him are either stupid, socialists, or mooches.¬† I am none of those, pay loads of taxes and think this guy is ridiculous.¬† Straight up ….I don’t trust this guy.

Anonymous

Mr. Gesller – disenfranchising voters is not the civil rights issue of the year? ¬†You wouldn’t know because you think the concept of civil rights is a dirty one. ¬†

Citizen999

Still find the amount of resistance to this simple thing amazing. Looks like some people think that the more uninformed uncaring uninterested people you can involve in a decision (voting) the better the decision will be.

What was that bumper sticker? Oh yes, “Never underestimate the power of a large group of stupid people”.

Joe

So who will decide if a voter is “informed” enough? ¬†This is where Mr. Gessler and his type just don’t seem to get it: ¬†Not everyone has the same views and motivations or political philosophy as you do, or I do, or that Mr. Gessler does. ¬†But they still have the right to vote and to not face ridiculous obstacles to doing so – even if they choose a candidate only because they like the sound of the candidate’s name or the tie they saw him wear on TV.. ¬†Who are you, or are any of us, to say this American is or is not qualified to vote – assuming he or she really is an American citizen.?. ¬†So THIS person is “qualified,” but THAT person should not vote because he isn’t “informed”¬† Welcome to GOP-land, folks. ¬†Of course there was a day when that was not the case. ¬†But it’s hard as a Progressive Democrat to look back so fondly on the days of RIchard Nixon – a star compared to the current crop of GOP candidates.

Three Dog Owner

I am just a simple resident of Colorado. I emailed Mr. Gessler to express my feelings about his definition of “inactive” voters. I never heard anything back. When Cary Kennedy was Secretary of State, I received personal responses to the two emails that I sent her.

I guess Mr. Gessler only answers (to) the big money folks who back him.

Frank25

Joe projects ¬†some real venom of his own.¬† Wonder if he really voted in past, or does he just want to complain.¬† For information, I served in military when commander did not encourage subordinates to vote, considering that chain of command set our standards.¬†¬† That changed in 1980s (after I retired)¬† and¬† now military are encouraged to fill out a federal request for absentee ballot each year, after any move, or shipment from present assignment, if if temporary¬† or deployed.¬†¬† You can check this out on military.com¬†¬† in February 2010.¬†¬†¬†I would expect any U.S. citizen wanting to vote, to at least do the same.¬†¬† Especially with all the county offices in metropolitan areas of Colorado.¬†¬† Can even update records by email, fax, or visit to office.¬†¬†¬†¬†¬† Anyone too lazy¬† or dependent on others for this minor task, does not deserve the vote.¬†¬†¬† If they just vote party line, or how parents vote,,¬† I am worried about our future.¬†¬† Scott Gessler is trying hard to follow Colorado law, with which I believe he has better grasp of, then comments here.

DT

Is there any question that this may has no intention of doing what is right for the state? Rather his SOLE motive is to do what is best for the Republican party?

Anonymous

I’m always amazed when a criminal takes others to task.¬† Worst SOS ever!¬† The Modern day Republican/Tea Party has ripped this nation apart and broken the back of the Middle Class.¬† George Bush went to a false war for his oil VP and he didn’t bother to fund it.¬†
Scott Gessler and the GOP¬†need to fix¬†their problems before railing on others.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.